Petra Mesic started out translating car parts in Croatia. Today, she runs the localization efforts at Puma, one of the biggest sports brands in the world.
Her story is one of curiosity, risk-taking, and quiet leadership.
She didn’t plan to be where she is now—but she grew by staying open, humble, and committed to learning.
“I never had a five-year plan. But I always knew I loved languages and cultures.”
Starting Small, Learning Big
Petra’s career began at a small translation agency in Zagreb. She learned how localization works from the ground up—tight deadlines, client feedback, CAT tools, and lots of multitasking.
That agency experience taught her:
- How to manage stress
- Why teamwork matters
- The value of being resourceful
- How to juggle many projects at once
“LSPs are where you learn the most. The variety, the pressure—you come out with really strong skills.”
That foundation gave her the tools to move forward with confidence.
The Big Shift to Client-Side
Petra took a leap when she moved to Germany and joined Electronic Arts (EA).
It was her first time working client-side, and everything changed.
Instead of just translating, she had to:
- Understand game production
- Coordinate with developers
- Give feedback to vendors
- Speak up in big meetings
At first, she felt like she didn’t belong.
“Imposter syndrome hit me hard. I thought, ‘Who am I to lead these conversations?’ But I learned that knowing your stuff is enough.”
Over time, Petra found her voice—and she kept using it.
Learning by Moving
Each new job brought Petra to a new country. Croatia. Germany. Ireland. Back to Germany.
Every move taught her something about:
- Patience
- Adapting to new teams
- Respecting different work cultures
- Staying grounded through change
“At DeepL, I joined a team of people younger than me. That challenged me to rethink how I manage and mentor.”
Petra never saw herself as a “natural leader.” But her approach—listening more, reacting less—turned out to be exactly what teams needed.
Leading Localization at Puma
Today, Petra heads localization at Puma. She works closely with legal, product, marketing, and tech teams to make sure Puma’s voice is clear around the world.
Her leadership style is:
- Calm
- Open
- Process-oriented
- Trust-driven
She encourages team members to try, fail, and grow.
“I want people to feel safe. You won’t get fired for a mistake. But you will get praised for trying something new.”
She believes localization isn’t just about translation—it’s about helping brands speak with their audience, not just at them.
Advice for Newcomers
Petra’s advice for anyone entering localization?
- Start at an LSP if you can—it gives you range
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Move around, if possible—it builds confidence
- Don’t wait until you’re 100% ready to take a job
- Stay curious, always
“Every step counts. You may not see it at the time, but it all adds up.”
Petra Mesic’s journey shows that leadership doesn’t have to be loud or fast.
It can be thoughtful, steady, and deeply human.
And in an industry that’s always evolving, people like Petra remind us that localization is less about perfection—and more about connection.
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